Apple chief executive Steve Jobs and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates have committed to a rare joint appearance at the fifth anniversary of the The Wall Street Journal's 'D: All Things Digital' conference later this year. The two men, both seminal figures in the development of the personal computer, will jointly discuss the history and future of the digital revolution in an unrehearsed, unscripted, onstage conversation on May 30 with D co-producers Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher.

(Voice-over guy starts...)This Tuesday to Thursday prepare to be amazed and electrified by a never-before seen battle ROYALE EXTREEEEME!!!!! Richard "St. Gnucius" Stallmann & Linus "GNOME Crusher" Torvalds take on Bill "MoneyBags" Gates and Steve "Drink the Kool-Aid" Jobs in a winner takes all CAGE-MATCH! Who will walk away? You've wanted it for years...the personification of ALL flamewars has finally found expression in flesh and BLOOD! ONLY at the Wall Street RUMBLE, May 29-31!(End voice-over)

Seriously, having Gates and Jobs on stage together in an unscripted forum does have potential. I would be very interested in any follow-ups to this story.

Imagine Jobs using MacBooks instead of chairs, smashing them on Bill's back. Linus walks around and waves to the crowd while Stallman climbs up the wall of the cage, inch by inch heavily breathing, and grumbles "It may be a long struggle but my holy elbowdrop will crush you all. Especially you, Torvalds, betrayer!"
Then, suddenly, hundreds of MS-lawyers rush into the scene - all dressed like agent Smith, shouting: "MS has patented all possible fighting moves, you'll die, it's INEVITABLE!"
They hold Linus and Steve down while Gates slaps their faces until he gets tired.

The fight is generally considered really lame - until MS starts a Get-The-Facts-campaign, claiming that Bill clearly crushed them all.
Stallman is still climbing...